Senator Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated his proposal to restrict social media access for minors, calling for a ban on users aged 16 and below following recent international developments and rising safety concerns.
In a statement, Gatchalian cited new regulations in Indonesia, which recently began enforcing limits on children’s access to certain online platforms. Under rules that took effect on March 28, users aged 15 and below are barred from creating accounts on platforms classified as “high-risk,” including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Roblox.
He said the Philippines should consider similar measures, pointing to findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment. Data from its 2022 results showed that each additional hour Filipino students aged 15 spend on digital devices for leisure is associated with a four-point drop in math performance.
“Let’s not wait for the problem to get worse before we take action,” Gatchalian said.
The senator also noted developments in the United States, where a jury in Los Angeles held major tech companies accountable for contributing to social media addiction among children, reflecting increasing global scrutiny over digital platforms.
Gatchalian’s renewed call comes after a recent local security incident. He earlier disclosed that authorities had stopped an alleged plan by a group of teenagers to attack a school, with recruitment reportedly taking place through an online gaming platform.
He said he is now exploring legislative measures to regulate minors’ use of social media, as policymakers assess how to balance online access with concerns over safety and academic performance.
